Electrical accessory charging compartment for a cabinet and retrofit components therefor

Abstract

An electrical accessory charging compartment, an interface device and a retrofit for creating a charging compartment and a cabinet with an lectrical accessory charging compartment on its exterior. A plurality of electrical connections is located in the charging compartment for supplying electricity to a plurality of consumer electronic devices simultaneously. A plurality of data connections is located in the charging compartment for transmitting data to and from the plurality of consumer electronic devices simultaneously. The interface device for a plurality of consumer electronic devices is provided with a connector member having a plurality of outlets arranged to supply electrical power and provide data connections to a plurality of consumer electronic devices, and a data connector arranged to be connected to a data network.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]In a home setting, where many different appliances are often located, people are using, and recharging, various consumer electronic devices, such as cell phones, PDAs, MP3 and other digital music players, CD players, DVD players, portable radios, palm computers, hand held electronic game consoles, web tablets, etc. Typically each of these devices requires its own specialized power supply for recharging or electrically powering the device during use. The availability of spare electrically outlets in a room, such as the kitchen, may be quite limited, requiring users to alternate the use or recharging of their various electronic devices. Also, the number and variety of these devices used or stored, even temporarily, in kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and other rooms, causes a loss of counter space, clutter, loss or mislocation of adaptors, shortage of available outlets, as well as possible damages to the electronic devices in environments which include h...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present invention provides a compartment with a plurality of connectors for consumer electronic devices and similar electrical accessories, to provide operating and / or recharging power to the consumer electronic devices and to transmit data to and from the consumer electronic devices. This compartment, which may stand alone, or be located in a cabinet or appliance, allows a variety of consumer electronic devices, as well as their adaptors, if required, to be stored in a single location, reducing the possibility that devices or their adaptors will be misplaced, and protecting the devices and their adaptors from environmental hazards located in various rooms in a home.

[0006]In an embodiment, the plurality of electrical connections could be provided in the drawer for supplying electricity to a plurality of individual voltage adapters associated with each of the plurality of consumer electronic devices, so that the adapters and consumer electronic devices could all be stored in the drawer, thereby alleviating mess and clutter and permitting all of the devices and their adaptors to be located in one convenient location.

Problems solved by technology

The availability of spare electrically outlets in a room, such as the kitchen, may be quite limited, requiring users to alternate the use or recharging of their various electronic devices.

Also, the number and variety of these devices used or stored, even temporarily, in kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and other rooms, causes a loss of counter space, clutter, loss or mislocation of adaptors, shortage of available outlets, as well as possible damages to the electronic devices in environments which include high humidity or splashing water, excessive heat or cold, and errant debris, such as food particles.

Various types of cabinets are also well known, however, such cabinets typically are provided to merely store items, and are not provided with the types of connections or receptacles necessary to power or recharge multiple consumer electronic devices simultaneously.

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